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Mozkito / Photonews via Getty Images
Firemen extinguish the burnt out remains of the van used in the heist near Brussels Airport on Feb. 18, 2013 in Zaventem, Belgium. Using a van and car to break down the security fence a gang of robbers stole diamonds estimated to be worth 50 million euros from a security van.
(Editor's note: An earlier version of this article led to a correction)
Eight armed and masked men made a hole in a security fence at the international airport in Brussels, Belgium, drove onto the tarmac and snatched millions of dollars' worth of diamonds from the hold of a Swiss-bound plane without firing a shot, authorities said Tuesday.
The gang used two vehicles in their daring raid Monday, dragged the cache of stones and sped off into the darkness, said Anja Bijnens, spokeswoman for the Brussels prosecutor's office.
Police found a burnt-out vehicle close to the airport later Monday night and said they were still looking for clues.
The heist was estimated at some $50 million in diamonds, said Caroline De Wolf of the Antwerp World Diamond Centre.
"What we are talking about is obviously a gigantic sum," De Wolf told VRT network.
The thieves targeted a diamond transfer at an airport in Brussels, cutting a hole in a security fence then making a beeline for a delivery van that was loading a plane with the diamonds. NBC's Keir Simmons reports.
An airport spokesman said the robbers made a hole in the perimeter fence and drove up to the Swiss passenger plane, which was ready to leave.
The robbers got out of the car, flashed their weapons and took the loot from the hold, said airport spokesman Jan Van Der Crujsse. Without firing a shot they drove off through the same hole in the fence, completing the spectacular theft within minutes, he said.
Van Der Crujsse could not explain how the area could be so vulnerable to theft. "We abide by the most stringent rules," he said.
The Swiss flight, bound for Zurich and operated by Helvetic Airways, was canceled. Swiss, an affiliate of Germany's Deutsche Lufthansa AG, declined to comment on the heist, citing the ongoing judicial investigation.
The insurance for air transport — handled sometimes by airlines themselves or external insurance companies — is usually relatively cheap because it's considered to be the safest way of transporting small high value items, logistics experts say.
Unlike a car or a truck, an airplane cannot be attacked by robbers once it's on its way, and it is considered to be very safe before the departure and after the plane's arrival because the aircraft is always within the confines of an airport — which are normally highly secured.
Philip Baum, an aviation security consultant in Britain, said the robbery was worrying — not because the fence was breached, but because the response did not appear to have been immediate. That, he said, raised questions as to whether alarms were ringing in the right places.
"It does seem very worrying that someone can actually have the time to drive two vehicles onto the airport, effect the robbery, and drive out without being intercepted," Baum said.
That amount of time would also allow someone to board the plane, he said.
A decade ago the Belgian city of Antwerp, the world capital of diamond-cutting, was the scene of what was probably one of the biggest diamond heists in history, when robbers took precious stones, jewels, gold and securities from the high-security vaults at Antwerp's Diamond Center, yielding loot that police in 2003 estimated to be worth about $100 million.
Antwerp's Diamond Center stands in the heart of the high-surveillance diamond district where police and dozens of cameras work around the clock, and security has been beefed up further since the spectacular 2003 robbery.
This story was originally published on Tue Feb 19, 2013 4:13 AM EST
Leave a Comment:
Wow !
Half a billion. Damn!
Gragged?
What happened to editors?
Half a billion, man you read that wrong, lol. "The heist was estimated at some $50 million in diamonds, said Caroline De Wolf of the Antwerp World Diamond Centre."
The headline I clicked on said $467 million
Movie script already being written.
I hope that the thieves are caught. But I cannot help having a smidgen of admiration for perpetrators who carry out a bloodless crime of such precision.
I agree with culheath, there will be a movie.
Le Mesdames et Messieurs, le Pink Panther and his crew are back at work again...we need ze police commissaire on this one, quick, dont just stand there...
"Si senor"
The Belgian police seem to be a sleepy bunch. Just yesterday the headlines were about Monster/Pedophile/ Murderer Marc Dutroux (who was caught despite the best efforts of the Belgian police whose bumbling would have been comical if it hadn't cost two little girls their lives) coming up for parole. I get that Belgium is generally a peaceful little place but it's time to snap out of it. Belgium needs Poirot back!
I would check the Kardashian's jewelry box for new additions.
LOL..half a billion..wrong Forest..its $50 million..half a billion is $500 million.
Inside job no doubt.
Be selling on Ebay or Craigslist soon those diamonds.
A very close replication of the movie 2001 'Heist' starring Gene Hackman. Swiss Air, tarmac stoppage, boarding the plane and so forth. Instead of diamonds, they stole gold. Good movie, really.
Looks like an inside job.
50 million in diamonds in the same place and not on a private jet? GMAB
The fact they knew about the diamonds, what plane they were being carried on, the plane's schedule and what container they were being carried in making it so easy for them to get in, get them and get out suggests that someone inside with knowledge of the diamonds was involved.
Editors? What editors? What is an "editor"? The is NBCNews.com...no editors, no proofreading, no one who even knows how to use spell-check.
That seemed just too easy. I agree with all that said this seems like it had to be an inside job, to know the plane's schedule, where, exactly, inside of the plane the jewels would be located, etc.
Could someone please get Inspector Clouseau on the line.
Quick! Interview the surviving Goodfellas, or anyone who watched the movie...
"There was me and Jimmy and Tommy, Frankie the whop, Nicky Eyes, and Jimmy Two Times who got that name because he said everything twice like: "I'm gonna go get da papers, get da papers"
This is an inside job, and security was a part of the too perfect plot.
I have never seen a masked man with 8 arms
LMAO..they cancelled the flight because $50 million in diamonds was stolen from that flight.
Here in the USA they will cancel a flight.. if a baby can't stop crying!
Maybe they can sell some of those to the no talent low life rappers. They suck but like to look flashy. Any way,smooth job.
The Cops did it.
Mike and MrF, when the story was originally posted, the headline said $467 million.
Somebody's been watching good-fellows, huh ?
I bet in the world of diamonds, 50 million is chump change. 50 million in diamonds is a small container, also depends on if they estimated the value at wholesale, market, or estimated retail? Anyway why would you ship 50 mil in diamonds in the cargo hold with peoples luggage. Shouldn't these have been in a suitcase cuffed to someones arm?
I agree with "Mike" & "Max", this had to be an inside job for them to know exactly what plane it would be on.
An armed robbery in Belgium? Impossible, guns are illegal there!
$50 million in diamonds? That amounts to about 2 engagement rings in Hollywood.
9fingers
This is an inside job, and security was a part of the too perfect plot.
What security? I didn't see anything mentioned about security which makes me even more suspicious how a shipment this large had no security, I'd be checking on the guy that handles the transportation arrangments.
2 words...
INSIDE JOB...
Meh. Just head back to the diamond mine and grab another bucketful.
There are more diamonds out there than most would think.
That was the first thing that I thought of. I wouldn't be surprised if that movie provided the inspiration for the actual robbery.
Honestly, I hope they get away with it. The Diamond companies suck... i hope this is some sort of robinhood heist!
Hell, the diamond co. might even be involved in it as well.
The real thieves are those in the De Beers diamond cartel who maintain the artificially high price on this relatively common gem stone.
Half a brazilian. dayum!
As long as people keep paying the price the rocks will maintain their value. They are nothing but a status symbol. All my ladies have cubic zirconia's.
Assuming it wasn't a private charter flight, they would load the diamonds after the passengers were boarded and their luggage loaded. At the destination, they would take the diamonds off before their luggage is taken off the plane.
Stolen Diamonds are hard to trace. Some one in the gang may spill the beans, but by that time, they are on the Black Market now--or sold to Jewelers, private parties who will get some deal on the diamonds. $50 mil. Someone had their eyes closed, or they have surveillance cameras w/faces and other people who will rat on them for a Reward.
Professional Robbers will usually steal Gold, and pop out the diamonds. Gold can be melted down, and not traced.
It's not the diamond company that will suffer. It's the insurance company.
@ Forest Roamer post 1.1,
50 million is not half a billion, go back to school!
I can't help thinking about "Good Fellas" and the Lufthansa heist in New York. Makes me think that this was an inside job...too easy and security...what?...asleep at the wheel?
That is a lot of ice to move at one time.
Sounds like they got the rocks off.
"It does seem very worrying that someone can actually have the time to drive two vehicles onto the airport, effect the robbery, and drive out without being intercepted," Baum said.
Sounds like an inside job ,well done .....
I heard it was a group of all women, that were trying to save their best friend! After all they are a girl's best friend!
I'd check this one out. Looks like an inside job to me.
Definitely agree. Somebody might have been passing on this information to set up for the heist. The report makes the heist seem very clean. If there was this little security I would expect more heists to happen at that location.
Absolutely. They had to know the diamonds were on the plane, where they were, which plane they were going out on, etc. etc.
What do you divert a Belgian cop with? Waffles?
@Alan Dean Foster - Brussels or Leige?
@Forest Roamer..wasn't half a billion...just 50 million. Before people have their diamonds shipped maybe they should check out the airport securty first..looks like there was none here.
Katie, when the story was originally posted, the headline said $467 million, which is damn close to a half a billion.
Of course it was inside planning - to get the info about the shipment, and to delay/eliminate any response.
It would not be surprising to find that the stolen box had zero diamonds in it, as they were all embezzled by the insiders (if they even existed - much easier to fence diamonds that only exist on paper.) They paid the "robbers" to make it look good. Insurance pays off and adjusts future insurance premiums to make up the loss (plus the insurance admin overhead.) Everybody gets paid; all are fat and happy.
Similar to most bank robberies - much larger claim for missing cash than the robbers ever see - nothing like a hold-up to help the books balance.
I would not be surprised if this turns out to be an insurance stunt, given the types of people who move diamonds.
Met one once on a canal tour boat in Amsterdam. Nice business suit, very quiet, .38 in a shoulder holster. Don't reckon you can do that today.
Whew...talk about a blizzard .....
Two(2)delivery vans with eight (8)armed robbers broke through a fence in Brussels airport- heading to the Swiss passengeer plane on the tarmac where Brinks' truck was unloading the diamonds' shipment from Antwerp. Robbers stole the diamonds' shipment in a few minutes brandishing guns-no one hurt- no shots- the robbers made their getaway through they same hole in the airport fence they broke through. Later police found a burnt delivery truck in Zellick (Flanders Brabant) trying to determine whether it was one of the getaway vans. Value of the diamonds first reported $50 million US- then 350 million euros. Brink's Heist in Brussels?- inside job with accurate timetables-lax security-no alarms when fences broken. Belgium- you have a real problem.
The value of the diamonds- $50 million US dollars/ 37 milliom euros- definite. Swiss airlines Helvetic Airlines flight from Brussels,Belgium to Zurich,Switzerland a passsenger plane flight- flight cancelled
Update- the 8 robbers were dressed in police uniforms,with machine guns and their dark vehicles had flashing police lights on. -guns trained on pilot/o-pilot/security guard. Got 120 parcels- the whole operation lasted less than 5 minutes. History- re:Brussels airport safey- 2005 large diamond shipment robbery (FedEx) in the Brucargo freight section;2001 cash and securities stolen from Brink's Ziegler money transport,2000 -diamonds stolen from a Lufthansa aircraft at Zaventem; 1995- securities stolen from a Swissair aircraft ready for a take-off; 1982- a security guard Francis Zwart attacked by gansters wearing State police uniforms- robbers got away with gold and jewelry, Francis Zwart's body has not been found. Brussels you do have a problem.
Yeah; think about it; could have been Al Queda types, highjack planes and worse. Scary. Remember the guy whose boat broke down near LaGuardia? He made it all the way to the terminal before someone noticed...as I recall.
Not a bad days work.........lol.......too bad our Govmnt can spend 50 million in a few minutes..........
Where the hell was security?? Or just a sloppy way by Brinks to move diamonds.
Didn't see any mention of Brinks in the story....did I miss it?
Ocean's 14
Ocean's 13...
De Beers owns the worlds diamonds, even if this was an inside job from Brinks or De Beers, they aren't going to get far. De Beers are not nice people!
The entire diamond market is regulated by them, they know what goes out to be cut and for sale, as soon as any of these show up, thats it, game over.
They manipulate the price by restricting the supply.
Yeah, that's called capitalism.
Why are their are so few socialist thieves?
Wait for it...
?????????????????????????
You mean the one's that take from the rich and give to the poor???
I'm sorry that you are so naive. People that are trained to cut diamonds are like anyone else. You have people who are dissatisfied with their pay, office, benefits, etc. Heck someone could just be &issed about how De Beers treats them. I heard one guy who was being trained in cutting jewels in Quincy Illinois say that the big companies treat their employees like highly paid slaves. Security watching them 24/7. Don't let them catch them having a little down time with a paid lady.
Diamonds are now carrying serial numbers - REAL tiny but there. As soon as the first one is sold somewhere, to a legit dealer, the jig will be up. Part of it anyway.
When a stone is re-cut, the serial number can be removed. Of course, a stone with no number is obviously hot, but more difficult to trace.
Treasures have been transported, lost, stolen, and hidden for thousands of years. It happens in peacetime, commerce and war. This half billion dollar heist is certainly one of the largest ever, but it helps explain why treasure hunters will always have new targets to search for and find.
I heard they had legs too. But its just a rumor...
The first thought is an inside job, but with computer hacking, that's no longer necessary. See today's BBC article on the Chinese military unit's hacking into private companies. What do you think they do with your information?
True, probably anyone with decent knowledge of computers could find the transport info....
Yo Hunley finder. The first thing that crossed my mind was that inside jobs have become obsolete with the ability of hackers of today. If they want to know when and where they just waltz in the computer and take the information. They could have invaded 30 days ago and have been waiting ever since. Alarms, phones, and other electronic apparatus. Stone dead or overloaded while the action is happening. You can't call 911 if all of the lines are in use. Pretty slick. Maybe anonymous needs some cash flow for some bigger equipment.
But theft is theft. I hope they have a good time before one of them gets caught and drops a dime (that shows how old I am) on them. But having said that a smart man would know all of the help and the help would know nothing. Need to know and all that.
Just saying.
I wish Die Hard 5 would've had this storyline.
So much for the terrorism angle. If these guys can do the robbery, how does taking my belt off, my shoes off, being scanned and groped do any good? I do this for NO REASON except being controlled!
Mike Auto. Why are you trying to connect your experience at security with terrorism They have nothing to do with each other. Okay let me explain myself: The airport security line is for you and people like you i.e. law abiding good people. So you must follow them okay! The terrorists do not have to follow the laws because they are terrorists, i.e. not law abiding good people. They are bad guys and the laws don't apply as far as they are concerned. Were you possibly thinking that if you tell a terrorist via a law, that they will abide, put down their weapons, go home and be good people? Maybe the law makers just haven't found the right words and therefore should just pile on more laws that the law abiding people will have to follow. Sorry for the rambling, I hope you can see that I agree with you!!
Equally culpable will be the diamond-cutters who will knowingly cut the stolen gems for future sale; they, however, seldom do jail time. By the way, is the gragging of gems a capital offense?
sounds like the PINK PANTHERS strike again!!!!
Gragged -verb 1. Associated with dishonest or unethical business practice(s). 2. to be horny, turned on, sexually aroused.
If I had 5 million in diamonds in my hands definition 2 would probably fit...
Both would fit equally Larry. You can't whack with diamonds in your hand though. You will shred your wheat.
I just read an article about the cost of ice cream no longer fits into a budget, and now this.
Who knew? I wonder if Anonymous was snooping again.
"Big things come in small packages"?
50 million in diamonds; that could be a really big ring.
I would almost bet Russia is behind this one. Russia is afraid that if too many more diamonds get onto the market, the value of their hoard will decrease, and that is currently what is propping up the whole country. It has been noted that if Russia suddenly released all its hoarded diamonds onto the market at once, the price of diamonds would plunge to around $3 per POUND!!! It is estimated that Russia has diamonds totaling nearly 41 TONS of uncut stones in its 'secret stash'.
@backtobasics ......Good thinking , they are the capital gangsters of the Europe .........
The diamond cartel paid off Russia to keep their diamonds off the market so to maintain their high price years ago.
Diamonds are a robber's best friend.
Cut a hole in the fence?
So much for the anti-terrorism efforts.
The root cause is obvious; The bad guys found a loop hole, there wasn't a law prohibiting bad guys from cutting through a fence in order to steel diamonds from the hold in the plane. Quick make a law, so the bad guys will never do this one again.
Sell the diamonds back to De Beers for 1/2 of their worth. with the diamonds back and the insurace money they would be happy and 1/2 or even less of the take wouldn't be a bad payday !
King Putt the company or person buying those diamonds wouldn't be a legit business anyway.
King Putt,
Tell those diamonds to stop littering!